PROPELLING MILWAUKEE FORWARD
714 MEMBERS
177,067
in the Friends of The Rep
patrons served,
VOLUNTEERED
including
19,248 HOURS of community service
14,786 subscribers
150
WORLD PREMIERES SINCE
1958
$16 MILLION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY I N C LU D I N G A L M O S T $ 5 M I L L I O N $ 1 . 5 M I L L I O N I N TA X R E V E N U E
442 ARTISTS & STAFF EMPLOYED DURING
2015
22,500 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED in Rep-in-Depth, our free pre-show discussions featuring actors
607 PERFORMANCES 1 5 UPA F Me mb e r Gro u p s
19,760 HOURS OF TRAINING PROVIDED LAST YEAR TO OUR
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL RESIDENTS
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Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Repertory Theater has much to celebrate. Our 2015/16 Season was a tremendous success with broken box office records, the launch of an industry-leading community engagement initiative, the first play in our four-year partnership with Milwaukee’s own Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, and the addition of Bronzeville Arts Ensemble as our first resident theater company. It doesn’t get much better than that! Not to mention, the 2015/16 Season marked our first with our new mission statement: “Milwaukee Rep ignites positive change by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.” Through our 600+ annual performances and robust education and community engagement programs, we… • Ignite positive change by creating new work that reinforces Milwaukee as an incubator of creativity, by providing in-school and after-school programs for Milwaukee students that improve literacy and social-emotional learning, and by contributing significantly to the region’s creative economy. • Create world-class theater experiences that bring the best of Milwaukee to the world and the best of the world to Milwaukee, captivating hundreds of thousands of patrons annually while nurturing a local artistic community and employing a collective of more than 200 Milwaukee-based artists. • Provoke and inspire meaningful dialogue by bringing seemingly disparate communities together through shared live experiences that examine varied viewpoints, celebrate our commonalities, and help us envision a better tomorrow. • Represent Milwaukee’s rich diversity by creating an environment that is welcoming and inspirational to all while producing plays that matter to an audience reflective of the community we serve. We are committed to delivering transformative impact in a financially responsible manner with balanced budgets year after year. For our efforts, we’re the only non-profit producing performing arts organization in the state to receive Charity Navigator’s coveted 4-star rating for managerial excellence. None of this success would have been possible without the tremendous support we receive from our generous donors, sponsors, and community partners. Strategic investments in our organization are not only necessary, but vital to position Milwaukee as a world-class hub for creativity and innovation. Together, we are making a profound difference in our region. Mark Clements Chad Bauman Artistic Director
2015/16 Season Impact Report
Managing Director
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SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 2015/16 SEASON Back Home Again: On the Road with John Denver Dreamgirls The Lion
“
[Dreamgirls] belongs to Nova Y. Payton... a voice like hers doesn't come along often, and a chance to hear her should never be passed up.
”
—OnMilwaukee
Guys on Ice The Mousetrap A Christmas Carol Of Mice and Men Rep Lab The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith The Invisible Hand American Song Sirens of Song Fences
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Clements’ superb production shows why Of Mice and Men remains a classic. —Milwaukee Magazine
If the first of [Ayad Akhtar’s] plays, The Invisible Hand, is any indication, it’s going to be a great four years for Rep patrons. —Wisconsin Gazette
” ”
THIS PAGE - Dreamgirls: Nova Y. Payton; Of Mice and Men: Scott Greer and Jonathan Wainwright; The Invisible Hand: Tom Coiner and Owais Ahmed. Photos by Michael Brosilow. FACING PAGE - David Alan Anderson and Kim Staunton in Fences. Photo by Tim Fuller.
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Milwaukee Repertory Theater
The productions onstage during the 2015/16 Season reached new levels of artistic excellence and continued to set new box office records. Total attendance grew by 5% and the number of Rep subscribers continues to reach new heights.
• •
•
Guys on Ice now ranks as the highest grossing production in the 29-year history of the Stackner Cabaret. The Invisible Hand set a new record for single ticket sales in the Stiemke Studio. This production was also the first of a four-year partnership with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Milwaukee-native Ayad Akhtar. We secured such notable talent as: • Lou Bellamy, founder of Penumbra Theatre in Minneapolis and the nation’s foremost expert on August Wilson’s canon of work, to direct Fences. • David Lutken to perform in Back Home Again: On the Road with John Denver. Winner of a Helen Hayes award, his work has appeared on Broadway and across the globe. • Powerhouse Nova Y. Payton to star in Dreamgirls. Also a winner of a Helen Hayes award, she has performed on tour across the country and been honored by the NAACP.
• •
Our production of Rep Lab was extended before it even opened due to high demand. Milwaukee Rep received funding from both the National Endowment for the Arts and the Edgerton Foundation for New Play Development for our world premiere commission of American Song.
“ “ 2015/16 Season Impact Report
I can't recall the last time a piece of theater moved me to tears like American Song...DeVita delivers a mesmerizing, tour-de-force performance that will never be forgotten by those who witness it.
” ”
—Showbiz Chicago
Fences is a grand slam for Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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WORLD PREMIERES We produced three world premieres during the 2015/16 Season, creating exceptional theatrical experiences that appealed to modern audiences. Each has the potential to transfer to cities all over the nation, reinforcing the brand of Milwaukee Repertory Theater as a leader in new play development. Back Home Again: On the Road with John Denver Conceived and written by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman after their 2014/15 hit Low Down Dirty Blues, this stunning tribute was based on Wheetman’s own travels as he worked with the man behind the legend. Katie Deal and David M. Lutken. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
Sirens of Song This world-premiere event captured the journey of women throughout the 20th century through song. Three powerhouse vocalists brought each story to life, including Broadway veteran Bertilla Baker, Amelia Cormack fresh from the first national tour of Kinky Boots, and Progress Theater’s Maiesha McQueen. Bertilla Baker (front) and Amelia Cormack (back). Photo by Michael Brosilow.
American Song Commissioned by The Rep in 2013 from renowned Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, this one-man play showed the aftermath of mass shootings from the perspective of a perpetrator. This ground-breaking work examined the complicated issues surrounding gun violence, such as mental illness, gun control, and parenting. James DeVita. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
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Milwaukee Repertory Theater
COMMUNITY IMPACT At the end of the 2015/16 Season, we launched Mpact, our new ambitious community engagement initiative that combines our current engagement and education programs with new programs designed to foster authentic relationships with communities of color, provide meaningful opportunities for civic discourse, and demonstrate that regional theaters have both the privilege and responsibility to be strong and active citizens in our cities. We welcomed Bronzeville Arts Ensemble (BAE) as our first theater company in residence. Founded by Malkia Stampley, along with Allen Edge, Chike Johnson, Marvette Knight, Don Pannell, and Sheri Williams Pannell, BAE celebrates African-American stories and serves as a platform for black artists. Through this unique collaboration, we provided administrative space and the use of the Stiemke Studio for free, as well as financial and administrative support. In return, BAE assisted in our efforts to reach diverse audiences. Their first production, The Mojo and the Sayso, performed in the Stiemke Studio from January 28-31 to critical acclaim.
Marvette Knight and Gavin Lawrence in The Mojo and the Sayso.
“
With The Mojo and the Sayso, we embarked on what we hope will not only be a fruitful joint venture for both companies, but also the beginning of a relationship that will serve our audiences and region for years to come.
2015/16 Season Impact Report
—Managing Director Chad Bauman
”
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COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS – ACT II In conjunction with our world premiere of American Song, we launched our community conversations series with ACT II. Serving as the ‘second act’ of the production, we invited 33 prominent community leaders from diverse backgrounds to provide a response to the production, leading into small-group discussions facilitated by the Frank Zeidler Center for Public Discussion. These groups provided a platform for structured reflective conversations where patrons could respond to the production. Additionally, each community leader’s response was posted on YouTube and highlighted on social media. In total, nearly 5,000 patrons participated, leading to a feature in American Theatre Magazine, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Milwaukee Business Journal, as well as a mention in the New York Times.
“
Besides being riveted by Jim’s performance, I listened to strangers’ stories of a suicide and a tragic accident in their younger years. These strangers-turned-neighbors became the people I could now pray for; they now had a face and name; you started the process of our commonality. In my 25+ years of attending The Rep, this had the most impact. —Marge Schell, Rep Patron
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Milwaukee Repertory Theater
COMMUNITY RESPONDERS DURING ACT II Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Dr. Jon Berlin, Milwaukee County’s Crisis Service Dan Bird, Alliance Counseling Center Jeri Bonavia, Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort James Causey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Nik Clark, Wisconsin Carry Inc. Danae Davis, Milwaukee Succeeds Susan Dreyfus, Alliance for Strong Families & Communities Dr. Darienne Driver, Milwaukee Public Schools Rahul Dubey, Rockwell Automation; godson of former Oak Creek Sikh Temple President Satwant Kaleka Attorney Patrick Dunphy, Cannon & Dunphy S.C Justice Janine Geske, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Sergeant Al Groszczyk, Milwaukee Police Department
Stephen Hargarten, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin Kalan Haywood, Vangard Group Lonnae Hickman, Milwaukee Rep Teen Council Charles Kahn, former Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Amardeep Kaleka, Filmmaker; son of former Oak Creek Sikh Temple President Satwant Kaleka Chris Larson, Wisconsin State Senator Jordan Lee, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee David Mahoney, Sheriff, Dane County Tina Owen-Moore, The Alliance School of Milwaukee Magda G. Peck, ScD, MP3 Health Group Paula Penebaker, YWCA Southeast Wisconsin Hannah Rosenthal, Milwaukee Jewish Federation Mayor Stephen Scaffidi, Oak Creek Deanna Singh, Burke Foundation Charlie Sykes, WTMJ Deanna Tillisch, United Performing Arts Fund Pastor Alexis Twito, Milwaukee Police Chaplaincy Program Eric Von, WNOV Marcus White, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Maxine White, Milwaukee County Circuit Court 2015/16 Season Impact Report
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Our outreach programming—including Panel Discussions, TalkBacks, and Rep-in-Depth—extended the conversation surrounding the issues found in our plays and helped us engage with more than 24,400 people. Dreamgirls Panels
Fences Panels
Making it in the Music Industry: Milwaukee’s Music Scene Empowering Women Women in the Arts
Celebrating the Legacy and the Future of African-American Theater Fatherhood in Milwaukee Milwaukee’s African-American Baseball Legends
(pictured below)
A Christmas Carol Each year, we provide free tickets to A Christmas Carol for underserved children and families. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the production in 2015, we were able to double the program and provide 2,531 tickets to 36 community partners. Additionally, we select one organization to support through our holiday drive. Nearly $40,000 was raised to support the work of Running Rebels.
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Milwaukee Repertory Theater
EDUCATION Education programs at The Rep serve nearly 20,000 students in 250 schools throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. Through programs like in-school residencies, student matinees, and after-school programs, Rep Education improves students’ literacy skills, social-emotional skills such as communication and empathy, and instills in students an appreciation for theater. Schools participating in The Rep’s 2015/16 Education Programs
“
In my opinion, theater is a great way to learn about history. Rather than learning history from reading it in a dusty textbook, theater makes history come alive right before our eyes. Theater teaches us how to express ourselves more effectively. It develops our ability to communicate our thoughts and feelings to others, improving our relationships and improving the world around us. This is why live theater exists. —Student after a Rep Immersion Day
2015/16 Season Impact Report
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EDUCATION In-School Residencies The Rep worked with 600 middle school students through Reading Residencies, a 20-week program that uses theater to increase reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Our Scriptworks program worked with 390 high school students to apply literacy and socialemotional skills through a creative project around one of our productions. Overall, students improved their ability to use text evidence by 9% from pre– to post-testing, and 93% said the program increased their relationship skills.
The Cast of Of Mice and Men during a Rep Immersion Day
Rep Immersion Day Nearly 3,600 students participated in this full day at The Rep, which included interactive demonstrations from our professional artists before a student matinee performance and a post-show talkback. During the 2015/16 Season, students attended a Rep Immersion Day during Dreamgirls, Of Mice and Men, and Fences. 12
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
After School Program This multi-disciplinary arts program gave students from eight sites the opportunity to use our production of Dreamgirls as the backdrop to explore the theme of dreams through theater, spoken word, and visual art, culminating in a showcase presentation in our Stackner Cabaret. The Cast of Of Rep Lab 2016.
Emerging Professional Residents (EPRs) Formerly known as the Artistic Intern Program, our Emerging Professional Resident Program serves as one of the most prestigious training programs in the country. The program provides a unique opportunity to bridge academic training and professional practice in a supportive learning environment. During our 2015/16 Season, 10 acting and 2 directing EPRs served as understudies and performed in ensemble and principal roles. Additionally, their showcase Rep Lab (above) continued to set attendance and box office records. 2015/16 Season Impact Report
2015/16 Emerging Professional Residents Bridgid Abrams Cornish College of the Arts
Jared Davis Ohio University
Raven Monique Dockery University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Martin Hanna Arts University Bournemouth in England
Di’Monte Henning University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Ryan Holihan Ohio University (Directing)
Arielle Leverett Western Illinois University
Christian Magby Savannah College of Art and Design
Nabrashaa Nelson University of California, Santa Barbara (Directing)
Riley O’Toole University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program
Hallie Peterson Ithaca College
Kammeran Tyree Savannah College of Art and Design
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2015/16 BOARD OF TRUSTEES O F F ICER S
President
Secretary
James E. Braza
Catherine Robinson
Davis & Kuelthau Attorney President Elect
Patrick Gallagher
Community Volunteer Treasurer
Ed Seaberg
CBRE Capital Markets Executive Vice President At Large
Rockwell Automation Vice President Vice President, Trustees
Matt Bartel
Gregory C. Oberland
Digital Measures CEO
Northwestern Mutual President Vice President, Development
Robert H. Manegold Community Volunteer
Stacy P. Williams
Judy Hansen
Robert W. Baird & Co. Senior Investment Consultant
Immediate Past President Broadway Producer
T R UST EES
Patsy Aster Community Volunteer
John Greene
Dwight L. Morgan
Johnson Controls
Community Volunteer
Mark Benskin
John Halechko
Abigail J. Nash
US Bank Private Client Reserve Senior VP, Managing Director
Associated Bank Exec VP, Director of Branch Banking
Community Volunteer
Wendy W. Blumenthal
Pete Hotz
Blumenthal & Associates
Briggs & Stratton VP, Engineering Design
Melanie Booth Community Volunteer
John Hunzinger, P.E.
Warren Buliox
Hunzinger Construction Company President
MWH Law Group, LLP Attorney at Law
Dr. Mark Niedfeldt Mark Niedfeldt, M.D., LLC ModernMed
Shelley Paxton Harley-Davidson Motor Company VP Global Marketing & Brand
Harry Richard Quadracci Ewens
Stephen Isaacson
Community Volunteer
Northland Securities Senior Vice President, Institutional Fixed Income Sales
Quadracci, Vieux & Sons Coffee President
Mark J. Diliberti
J. Patrick Keyes
Community Volunteer
Jane Chernof Foley & Lardner LLP Partner, Vice Chair-Trademark, Copyright & Advertising Practice
Robert H. Duffy
Wisconsin Energy Exec. VP & CFO
Kristine Lueders Foley & Lardner Estates & Trusts Specialist
Quarles & Brady Partner
Micky Sadoff Patrick Smith Community Volunteer
Stephen VanderBloemen VanderBloemen Group CEO
Randall McKennie
Stephen A. Gigot Michael Best & Friedrich LLP Managing Partner, Milwaukee
Cecilia Gilbert
Aurora Healthcare Vice President
Leslie Meisner
Nicholas P. Wahl Godfrey Kahn President and Managing Partner
BMO Private Bank Managing Director
Department of Public Works City of Milwaukee
Howard Williams Wells Fargo Regional Managing Director
P R E SI DE N T S C O U N C IL
T. Michael Bolger · Joyce Broan · Lloyd A. Gerlach · Judy Hansen · Jacqueline Herd-Barber Larry Jost · John L. Kordsmeier · Frank Krejci · Susan A. Lueger · Robert H. Manegold Vincent L. Martin · Patricia McKeithan · Donna Meyer · W. Kent Velde 2015/16 Season Impact Report
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FINANCIALS ( un audi ted)
EXPENSES
TOTAL EXPENSES: $10,135,132 Artistic and Community Programs - 56% Marketing & Development - 21% Admin/General - 10% Food & Beverage - 6% Occupancy - 6%
REVENUES
TOTAL REVENUE: $10,950,218 Ticket Sales - 54% Contributions & Grants - 37% Food & Beverage - 6% Other Sources - 3%
SOURCES OF CONTRIBUTIONS UPAF - 40% Individuals - 28% Foundations - 16% Corporations - 6% Events - 5% Restricted Gifts - 2% Friends of The Rep - 1% Government - 2% For the second year in a row, The Rep was awarded a four-star ranking by Charity Navigator for its transparency and sound financial management. 14
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
FRONT COVER: James DeVita in American Song. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater 108 E. Wells St Milwaukee, WI 53202